Device for simulating motor sounds



June 22, 1965 J. w. RYAN 3,190,034

v Y DEVICE FOR `SIlVIUL/ATUG MOTOR SOUNDS v 4 frpjillg'dfp'.9; .1964A ssheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR JaZm/Wlnyalz EX I v ATTORNEYS June 22, 1965.1.w. RYAN 3,190,034

DEVICE FOR SIMULATING MOTOR SOUNDS Filed Deo. 9, 1964 45 s sheets-sheet2 Nl/wrok John W Ryan BY WW ATTORNEYS June 22, 1965 J. w. RYAN nEvIcEFon swumnne uomon sounns 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 9, 1964 ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent O 3,190,034 DEVICE FOR SIMULATNG MGTR SOUNDS JohnW. Ryan, 688 Nimes Road, Bel Air, Calif. Filed Dec. 9, 1964, Ser. No.419,270 Claims. (Cl. 4ta-111) This application is a continuation-in-partof a copending application led October 2, 1963 under Serial No. 313,285by the applicant herein. In general, the present invention relates to adevice for simulating motor sounds. More specifically, the presentinvention relates to a device adapted to emit when operated soundsclosely corresponding to the sounds of an internal combustion motor.

InA said co-pending application it was noted that, in the e past, therehave been many toy vehicles having devices mounted thereon to simulate amotor sound. The conventional device which has been employed involves areed fixed at one end and extending free at another end but engaged witha rotating gear wheel so that the reed is vibrated to emit sounds.However, such prior art motor sound devices customarily emitted veryhigh-pitched unii form sounds which were far removed from the ordinaryinternal combustion motor sound of vehicles such as `trucks and carswhose motor sound is customarily lowpitched and usually includes acyclic variation of sound.

Furthermore, the usual .pri-or art motor sound device involved asubstantial period of contact between the portion of the device emittingthe sound and the portion of the device actuating the sound emitter.Thus, a considerable portion of the vibrational energy was lost and theresulting sound device was relatively inefficient. Also, prior art motorsound devices usually utilized direct contact between the sound emitterand the actuator for the sound emitter, so that stresses and strainswere put on the sound emitter which didnot contribute to the volume ofthe sound being emitted. Consequently, the usual prior art device had arelatively short life because of the intense strains and stresses beingput on the sound emitter apart from the function of emitting sound.

Many of these prior art motor sound devices include resonator meanswhich is coupled to a driving means in 4such a manner that the resonatormeans is excited for a fixed period.

The spectral analysis of the sound produced by a typical automobileengine indicates that, for optimum reproduction, the maximum energycontained in the spectrum should be below approximately 2500 c.p.s.However, in an automobile engine and in a system for simulating motorsounds, the frequency of the sound alone is insufficient to define areasonable simulation of a motor sound. The spectrum should be one inwhich a broad sweep of frequencies is indiscriminately produc-ed withoutsharply defined and well-separated peaks. Sharply defined and wellseparated peaks produce a musical sound like a lowpitched horn or bell.When such peaks do not exist, a noise results and, if the noise is in arelatively loW frequency range, it simulates a motor sound.

The devices for simulating motor sounds of the present invention includesystems which are shock-excited with a lot of resonance. Thisshock-exciting is done repetitively, without necessarily having a fixedperiod. The exciting of the system is done in a free mode. This meansene, or an extremely complex mixture of compounds, such 3,190,034Patented .lune 22, 1965 ICC as cardboard. The material may behomogeneous, laminate, or randomly discontinuous, such as chipboard.Also, the material may be solid, porous or of varying density and crosssection, such as a woven or pressed fiber structure like fiberboard.

Such vibratile systems may also be made with almost any geometry. Forexample, a cone, a plane disc and a cup with nearly cylindrical sidewalls may be employed. These changes in geometry have a marked effect onthe resonance characteristics of the system. The same mass of the samematerial reacts differently acoustically if it is shaped as a cone orcup rather than as a flat disc.

Similarly, the same object will react quite differently acoustically ifit is mounted differently. A compliant mounting, in which the object isheld loosely and flexibly, will cause it to have different resonancecharacteristics fro ma mounting in which it is held rigidly at some onepoint.

The natural or resonant frequency of a vibratile systeni is the basicfrequency at which it resonates in `response to a shock excitation.Although it is difficult to measure this with great precision, it is acharacteristic of the system and usually can be discerned on a spectralanalysis of the sound produced by the system at the lowest-frequencysubstantial peak produced by the System. For example, the spectralanalyses of certain toy motor unit cones show a number of peaks, withthe last major peak in the vicinity of 2,500 c.p.s. Thus the bulk of theacoustic energy produced in simulation of a motor sound should be below2,50) c.p.s. The natural or resonant frequency of that same cone,however, is about 25() or 350 cycles. Repeated shock excitation of avibra- Y tile system thus may produce ,the bulk ofthe energy atfrequencies well above the natural or resonant frequency of theparticular resonator employed.

The characteristics of vibratile systems which are capable of producingmotor sounds may be defined in terms of the stiffness of the system. Thenatural or resonant frequency of the system is defined by the equation fnl stiffness 7 *2r mass Stiifness is measured in dynes per centimeter.

This equation reflects the obvious fact that the same material with thesame geometry produces different resonances, as its mass is varied. Asmall brass bell has a high pitch; a heavy brass bell may have anextremely low pitch. This formula makes it possible to define a physicalcharacteristic of the vibratile systems-their stiffnesswhich is anecessary condition for any system within `a. range of weights that ispractical for toy use (e.g., 1/10 gram to grams) which is capable ofproducing a reasonable simulation of a motor sound. However, thisnecessary condition is not in and of itself a sufficient condition; itstill must be qualified-i.e., the system must be of a size and naturenormal and practical for a toy. With such a limitation, the more extremecombinations of characteristics are eliminated (e.g., an extremely tinydisc of very small mass and very high stiffness, which will producesounds within the proper frequencies, but which will be inaudible ornearly inaudible and may have a more nearly musical distribution ofpeaks rather than the noiselike distribution which is necessary tosimulate a motor' sound).

A second limiting factor is that the impedance of the vibratile systemis defined by the equation:

Z0=\/ (mass) (stiffness) The impedance is a measure of the efficiency ofthe system; i.e., the effort required to produce `sound from it. It theimpedance is very high, -the system is impractically inefficient. Thisequation supports the fact that the `use ot an extremely stiff system(eg, an ordinary metal bell) which is so heavy Vthat its naturalfrequency is within the desired range, is impractical for a toy becauseof the great .weight required to attain this and the energy required toexcite the system. It is, also eliminated because of the necessarycondition that the spectrum produced by such a system be one in whichthere are not clearly detined and well-separated peaks, producing amusical sound rather thana noise.

Investigation of these matters has resulted in the conclusion that astiffness between 104 and 108 dynes per centimeter is the range withinwhich a practical toy device to simulate motor sounds can be made. Theselimits of stiffness, applied to systems weighing between 1/10 gram and100 grams, produce natural frequencies (within the limits ofpracticality discussed above) which are in the range necessary toproduce a motor sound. The more extreme combinations ot high mass andlow stillness, and

low mass with high stiiness, have to be omitted. For example, a 100 gramsystem with a stiffness of 101 (which would be something like a veryheavy, oppy, loose piece ot rubber) is quite impractical, producing anatural fre- -quency of about 11/2 cycles per second. The extremecombination ot a stillness of 108 and a weight ot /l@ gram, which wouldbe something like a very tiny disc of hard plastic or soft metal,produces a frequency which is far too high-Well above 5,000 cycles persecond. Taking the moreV reasonable combinations, even at the outerlimits of the ranges, such as a stiffness oi 104 and a weight of 1/10gram (producing a natural resonance of 50 cycles yper second), or astiffness of 108 and a weight et 100 grams (producing a naturalfrequency of 155 cycles) the range of 104 to 10 stiitness demonstratesthat by using the more stii systems with greater masses or the lessstiit systems with lesser masses within the ranges of mass and stitness,that 104 to 10B dynes per centimeter are the outer limits of stiiinesswhich may be utilized effectively in toys to simulate motor sounds.

The following chart is a listing of 21 different sorts of vibratilesystems, ranging from bicycle bells to toy motor sound cones and iiatplates ot polyethylene, paper, cardboard, styrene, brass, steel andrubber:

Type of resonator Dia., Material Fr. Mass Stiii'ness in. (cps.) (gm.)(dyues/em.)

1, 8.50 47 6 4X10 2, 050 55 9 1X109 1, 700 23 2 GX10 l, L100 G4 5 CX10gY Engine cone 250 1.6 4 0X1()0 Racer cone 555 1.1 1 4)(107 Voice unitcone. 230 0.9 l. 9X1@ .5 gnil ilat plate, 3 25 0.1 2. 5)(10a Jee. .5 milhat plate, 3 200 1 1. GX10a tight. 9 rfnil at plate, 3 Paper 145 1.0 8.3 105 ree. 24fmil flat plate, 3 Cardb0ard 360 2. S 1. 4X107 ree. 6milhiat plate, 3 RE 150 0.8 7.1 1O5 tig t. 6 milhlat plate, 8 RE 41 4. 22. 8X10n g 24fmil ilat plate, 8 Cardboard 60 13. 8 1. 9 100 ree. 15milat plate, 3 Styrene 180 2. 5 3 2)(100 ree.

5 ifnil iiat plate, 3 Brass 500 6.7 6. GX10l ree. 2 rfnil flat plate, 3Steel 130 2. 5 1. 7 1tl i ree. 1 1fnilflat plate, 3 dO 160 1 2 1.2X106ree.

8 niillttlat plate, 3 Rubber 120 1. 5 8 5 105 tig i Gufmil iiat plate, 3Styrene. 480 10. 2 9. 3 1O7 ree. 60 miliiat plate, 8 do 120 53.8 3 1 107free.

*Polyethylena For each of the above systems, some of which were mountedfreely and others of which were mounted rather f tightly, the mass wasdetermined and the natural frequency was determined. The stiinesses werethen computed and, as can be seen, all the practical simulations of amotor sound fell within the stifnesses between approximately 10L and108. The measurements ofthe frequencies recorded in the table areapproximations which are accurate to the rst digit. The list shows thatpractical weights ot very stift metals (such as bicycle bells withVstiftnesses in the range of 109), produced natural resonances above1,000 cycles per second. In order to obtain a system where repetitiveshock-excitation produces a noise vherein the bulk of .the noise isbelow 2500 c.p.s., the

natural frequency of the resonator should be below 1,000

vclosely corresponding to sounds ot an internal combustion engine.

' Another object ot the present invention is toy motor sound devicehaving a vibratile systernwhich is shockexcited with a lot ot resonance.

Still another object of the present invention is a motor sound devicewherein the sound emitter may be protected Vfrom direct contact with theactuator for the sound emit- 'ter and thus relieved of unusual stressesand strains.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a resonator fora toy motor sound device having (1) a low resonant frequency, (2) a bodywhich is sutliciently stift to reproduce high frequencies, and (3)amplitude capa- Y bilities within the material stress limits which willpermit production or" a high level of low frequency energy.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a strikermeanc for a toy motor sound device which will excite a resonator with along impulse and which will produce an output from the resonator havinga spectrum containing a maximum of energyin frequencies below about 2500c.p.s.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy motor sounddevice which simulates an internal combustion engine in both appearanceand sound.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vibratilesystem for a motor sound device which has a stiness within the range ofapproximately 104 to 108 dynes per centimeter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a striker meansfor a motor sound device having an impeller on which individual strikersare loosely mounted at random angles which are-no less than 60 degreesapart.

Other ob'iects andv advanages of the present 'invention will oe readilyapparent from the following description and drawings, which illustrate apreferred exemplary embodiment ot the present invention as well asalternative ernbodirnents of the presen-t invention.

In general, the present invention involves a motor sound device having avibratile system including a resonator adapted to emit an internalcombustion motor sound when struck. Rotatably mounted'adjacent saidresonator is an impeller having at least one lug mounted on itsperiphery adapted to strike said resonator during the rotation of theimpeller. Also, the motor sound device has drive means for rotating saidimpeller. Preferably, mounted between the impeller and resonator is abridge which is adapted to move solely substantially perpendicular tothe resonator and to translate blows thereon to said resonator.Also,`prefcrably, the impeller includes a plurality of lugs spacedaround its periphery with each of said lugs being retractably mounted onthe impeller and adapted to be extended to strike the resonator orbridge by the centrifugal force exerted thereon Vby the rotation ofthe'impeller and to be retracted by its impact with the bridge orresonator. The lugs may be spaced vehicle such as an automobile. `viceincludes a resonator 31 adapted to emit an internal at random angles ofno less than 60 degrees apart and may be made of materials such as wood,plastic and metal having sufcient mass and velocity to shock-excite theresonator with a lot of resonance.

The resonator may have a conical shape and may have a stiffness betweenapproximately 104 to 1()8 dynes per centimeter for a mass of from 'lAOto 100 grams. The cone is suspended in such a manner as to produce itsdesired low frequency resonance with the mass of the cone used. The conehas an amplitude capability within the Stress limits of the materialused, thereby permitting production of a high level of low frequencyenergy.

The mass of and the types of material employed in both the lugs and theresonator is such that undamped resonances are minimized, and so thatthe output from the resonator has a spectrum containing .a maximum ofenergy in frequencies below approximately 2500 c.p.s.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, referencewill now be made to the appended drawings of a preferred specificembodiment of the present invention as well as alternative embodimentsof the present invention..` `Such drawings should not be construed aslimiting the invention which is properly set forth in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a toy auto containing the motor sounddevice of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIGURE l, taken alongthe lines 2 2 of `FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2, taken along the lines3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2,. taken along the lines 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partially broken-away perspective view of a portion ofFIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view corresponding to FIGURE 4 illustrating analternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a partially broken-away perspective view of a portion ofFIGURE 6.

`nal combustion engine and motor sound device of .the

present invention.

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken alongline 13-13 of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of the impeller portion of FIGURE 5 showing analternate embodiment thereof.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1-5, the motor sound device of the presentinvention may be mounted in a The motor sound decombustion motor soundwhen struck. Mounted adjacent the resonator 31 is a bridge 4t) adaptedto move solely substantially perpendicular to the resonator and to`translate blows thereon to said resonator. Also, the motor sound device30 includes a rotatably mounted impeller 50 having at least one lug di)mounted on its periphery adapted Ito strike said bridge during therotation of said impeller and drive means 70 for rotating said impeller.

The vehicle 2li includes a body 21 with the motor sound device mountedtherein. The body 21 is carried by the front axle (not shown) havingwheels 22 mounted on its ends and a rear axle 23 having wheels 24mounted on its Cil ends. The body 21 is preferably made of a syntheticresin or plastic, as indicated by the cross-hatching employed in thedrawings. Such materials have a compara-tively low resonance frequencyso that the body 21 serves as a resonance chamber when employed inconjunction with a motor sound device of the present invention toenhance the sound produced thereby.

Mounted within the body 20 is the motor sound device 3i) having aresonator 31 adapted to emit an internal combustion motor sound whenstruck. The resonator 31 includes a iiexible cone 32 mounted on a frame33 which is attached to the vehicle body 21. The cone 32 has a somewhatthinner cross-section 34 adjacent to the frame 33 to increase itsflexibility and has an apex plug 35 adjacent to the remaining portion ofthe motor sound device 30. i

Although a number of different types and sizes of cones 32 will manifestthemselves, a cone approximately 21A inches in diameter and 1/2 inchdeep, which has a sidewall thickness of approximately l5 millimeters andwhich is made from a cellulose acetate butyral having a mass of 1.6grams and a stiffness of 40x10s dynes has been found to be satisfactory.Such a cone has a natural frequency of approximately 250 c.p.s. which islow enough to permit it to respond with a lot of resonance toshockexcitation. The edge support of the cone 32 in frame33 is such thatlow frequency resonance is. obtainable with the mass of the cone used.In addi-tion, the cone V32 has satisfactory amplitude capabilities withmaterial stress limits which permit production of a high level of lowfrequency energy. When struck with a striker means of the presentinvention, the output from the cone 32 has an acoustical spectrumcontaining a maximum of energy in the lower frequencies i.e., belowapproximately 2500 c.p.s. The thinner cross-section 34 of the cone 32not only serves as a damper for the cone, but also extends the life ofthe cone by permitting it to roll on the reduced cross-section therebyreducing fatigue.

Mounted adjacent to the resonator 31 and perpendicularly to the apexplug 3S is a bridge 40 which is adapted to move solely substantiallyperpendicular to the resonator 31 and to translate blows thereon to theresonator 31. The bridge 49 includes a rigid strip 41 of tough materialsuch as plastic which is slidably mounted in grooves 42 in the frame 33of the resonator 31 with the ends 43 of the strip 21 near the bottoms 44of the grooves 42. Thus, strip 41 is adapted to slide perpendicular tothe resonator 31 and is substantially restrained from sliding parallelto the resonator 31 so that the strip 41 will minimize side loadsexerted on the cone 32, by the lugs 6i). When the vehicle 2d is pushedalong a iioor or the like, by a child, the drive means 7i) rotates theimpeller Si) with sufiicient force so that the lugs dit would rapidlyerode the plug 35 away if the lugs dit Were to Contact it directly.

The impeller 5d is rotatably mounted adjacent to the bridge itl and hasa plurality of lugs dil spaced around its periphery adapted to strikethe bridge ttl during the rotation of the impeller Sil. The impeller 5dincludes a spindle 51 having an upper reduced end 52 which is rotatablyreceived in a socket 25 of the body 21. Similarly, the spindle 51 has alowerreduced end 53 which is rotatably received in a socket Sd of a case55 which is mounted on a bridge 25 of the body 21. Mounted around thespindle 51 is a disc 56.

The lugs 6i? are retractably mounted. on the impeller E@ and adapted tobe extended to strike the bridge 40 by the centrifugal force exertedthereon by the rotation of the impeller Sii and to be retracted by theirimpact with said bridge. The lugs di) include rings 61 loosely mountedon pivot pins 62 attached to the disc 56 of the impeller 50.

.The pivot pins 62 are preferably spaced about the disc Si? at randomangles which are no less than degrees apart, as shown for the pins 162min FIGURE 14.

The rings 61 have a carefully developed radial compliance designed toexcite the cone 32 with a long impulse so that the output from the conewill have a spectrum containing a maximum amount of energy in the lowerfre- 'quencies The mass and stiffness of the rings 61 are such that theywill shock-excite the cone 32 with a lot oi resonance and withsufficient higher frequencies to maintain acoustical balancesimultaneously with a high acoustical level. It has been found thatrings having a V1@ OD. by 7/16 LD. by 1A: inch thickness and which aremade of an Vacetal resin possesses a satisfactory mass and stiffness forVthe velocity imparted to them by the impellcr 50.

The impeller 50 is rotated by a drive means 70 which includes a iirstgear means 71 mounted on the rear axle of the vehicle 20 and a secondgear means 77 mounted on the spindle 51 of the impeller 50. The secondgear means 77 is engaged with the first gear means '71. The first gearmeans 71 includes a cup gear 72 which is mounted on the rear axle byengaging its central sleeve 73 with a knurled portion 74 of the rearaxle 23. The second gear means 77 is produced by forming a gear 78 outof the lower portion of the spindle 51 adjacent its lower end The gear78 is engaged with the teeth 75 of the cup gear 72. rEhe drive means 70also includes a ily wheel 79 which is co v'axially mounted on the disc56 of the impeller 50 and forms the connection between the disc 56 andthe spindle 51 of the impeller Sli.

The operation of the motor sound device 30 of the toy Y vehicle 20 ofFGURES l-5 is verysimple but yet achieves sounds closely correspondingto the sounds of an internal combustion motor. When the toy vehicle Ztl1s 'moved along a surface with its wheels 22 and 2li engaged .bridge dso that the impact of contact therewith is essen.-

tially instantaneous. Also, since the bridge is substantially restrainedfrom sliding parallel to the resonator 31 because the ends 43 of a stripil are near the bottoms dd of the grooves 42, the bridge 40 is moved bythe impact of the lugs 60 solely substantially perpendicular to theresonator and thereby strikes the apex plug 35 of the cone 32. VVThecone 32 in turn emits when struck by the bridge i0 a low-pitched soundin a regular cycle depending on the placement and coniiguration of thelugs 60 on the impeller 50 so that the sounds produced closelycorrespond to the sounds of an internal combustion motor. Alternatively,the strip 41 can be bowed inwardly against plug 35 so that it is inpermanent engagement therewith. ln either event, the sound produced issubstantially the same since the cone 32 is excited with a long pulse byvirtue of the radial compliance ofthe rings 61.

Many other specic embodiments of the present invention will be obviousto one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, asillustrated in FlGURES v 6, V7, 12 and 13, the motor sound device 13dmay include resonator 131 may include a cone 132 mounted on a frame 133with the portion 134- of the cone 132 adjacent the frame 133 beingcorrugated. ln addition, the impeller 150 may include lugs 163 whereinrings are loosely mounted on pivot pins 162 attached to the impeller160. However, the rings 161 may have a U-shaped cross-section 163 withan outwardly extending iiange 164 adapted to lstrike the resonator 131.

Alternatively, the rings 161 can be mounted on an impeller 1506i havingpins 162e mounted thereon at random angles of at least 60 degrees withrespect to each other. With this arrangement, the

rings 3.6i' strike the cone 13.2 on an irregular cycle producing arumble to enhance the motor sound produced thereby.

The cone 132 may advantageously correspond in size and shape with, andmay be made from the same material as, the cone 32 previously described.The bridge 40 described in connection with the FIGURES l-4 embodimentmay be eliminated from the resonator 131 so that the rings 161 strikethe apex plug 135 directly. This is feasible because the motor 170drives the impeller 150 with les; acceleration than is imparted to theimpeller 50 of the previous embodiment when the vehicle 20 is pushedalong a suitable surface. rl`hus, the problem of fn'ctional wear on theplug is not as great as it is in connection with the FIGURES 1-4embodiment. Also, the rings 161 may advantageously have a differentradial compliance than the rings 61 and are preferably made of a softermaterial than the rings 60. For example, the rings 161 may beadvantageously made of polyethylene having a modulus of elasticity ofapproximately 100,000 p.s.i. in Vlieu of the rings used in the previousembodiment. The FIG- URE '7 configuration of the rings 161 is animportant feature of the device 130. It has been found in actualpractice that such a configuration in combination with an electricallydriven rotor or impeller and the particular cone 132 disclosed hereinproduces a sound corresponding more nearly to the sound produced by atypical automobile engine than is produced when other shaped rings areemployed in the same system.

The motor sound device 130 may be advantageously mounted in a simulatedcombustion engine, generally indicated at 174, which is adapted to bemounted on a frame, such as a bicycle or tricycle frame. The simulatedengine 174 includes a casing 176 having a rounded lower wall 173, aremovable cap 180, a top wall 182, a cylinder wall ld and acylinder-head wall 186. A simulated discasing 176 by a pair of end walls189, a pair of side walls 190 and a bottom wall 192.

The curved lower wall 178 is joined to a pair of spacedapart side walls194 in such a manner that a simulated crankcase or chamber 196 isprovided within the casing 176 for accommodation of the motor sounddevice 130.

The motor for the sound device 130 is preferably a DC. motor so that therate of rotation of its associated spindle 198 is proportional to theinput voltage to the motor 170. Consequently, the intensity and rapidityof repetition of the sounds produced by the motor sound device 130 isproportional to the input voltage to the electric motor 170. Theelectric motor 170 is connected to a battery 200 directly by a iirstlead wire 202 and indirectly by a second lead wire 203 which may beconnected to a suitable regulator means which is shown schematically at205 and which may comprise the regula-` tor means shown and described inapplicants co-pending application, Serial No. 361,653, filed April 22,1964, now Patent No. 3,160,984 entitled Toy Motor Sound Control Means. Athird lead wire 204 may be employed to connect the regulator meansdescribed in said co-pending application Serial No. 361,65 3 to thebattery 200. The battery 200 contacts a metal lug 206 which is attachedto the lead wire 202. The battery 200 also contacts a metal clip 203which is attached to the third lead wire 204. The battery 200 can bereplaced periodically as required by removing the cap which is securedto the wall 189 by a `latching means 210.

A simulated electrical distributor 212 is mounted on the cap 180 and isconnected by a simulated spark plug wire 214 to a simulated spark plug216 which, in turn, is mounted on the cylinder-head wall 186.

A plurality of ears or bosses 213 are mounted on the casing 17d and eachboss 21d is provided with an aperture 219 provided therein which isadapted to mount the casing 176 on a frame (not shown).

A cover plate 220 retains the lugs 161 in position on their associatedpins 162.

Still other specific embodiments of the present invention areillustrated in FIGURES 8-11. In FIGURE 8, the impeller 250 includes aplurality of lugs 260 spaced around its periphery. Each lug includes aring 261 having a variety of shapes such as substantially ellipsoidal261a, circular 261b, triangular 261e, and irregular 261d. Similarly, thepivot pins 262 on which the rings 261 are mounted may be spaced varyingdistances from the center of the impeller 250.

The impeller 250 may be used in place of the impeller 50 in the sounddevice 30 or alternatively, it may be used in place of the impeller 150in the motor sound device 130. When used in the sound device 30 therings 261g, and 261b, 261e and 261:1 are preferably made from a materialhaving a modulus of elasticity of approximately 400,000 p.s.i. On theother hand, when employed in conjunction with the sound device 130,these rings are preferably made from a polyethylene material having amodulus of elasticity of approximately 100,000 p.s.i. Also, when used inthe motor sound device 30, the rings 261a-261d preferably have a massequivalent to the mass of the rings 61 and when used in the motor sounddevice 130, the rings preferably have a mass comparable to that of therings 161. The random shape of the rings Zola- 261d enhances the motorsound produced by the device in which the rings are employed byimparting a rumble to the sound produced by the motor sound device.

In FIGURE 9, the impeller 350 includes a spindle 351 having a bracket352 mounted thereon with arms 353 extending outwardly. Dependent fromthe arms 353 are flexible struts 354 supported at the bottom by aflexible brace ring 355. Mounted on the struts 354 are knobs 356 whichare adapted to strike the bridge or resonator.

The impeller 350 may be mounted in the body 21 of the vehicle 20 bypivot pins 252 and 253 provided on the upper and lower ends thereof,respectively. A gear 27S may be provided on the lower end of theimpeller 350 for actuation by the gear 72 in vehicle 20 so that theimpeller 350 will be driven thereby.

which are mounted a plurality of outwardly extending arms 452 with eachof said arms having a knob 453 mounted on the end thereof.

The impeller 450 may be mounted in the vehicle 20 in such a manner thata gear 478 provided on the impeller 450 engages the driving gear 72provided in the vehicle 20. The arms 452 and their associated knobs 453are preferably made from a non-metallic material having a modulus ofelasticity within the range of about 100,000 psi-400,000 p.s.i.

In FIGURE 11, the resonator 531 includes a cone 532 with an apex plug533 having a chamber 534 therein. Contained within the chamber 534 are aplurality of freely movable weights 535. The chamber 534 of the plug 533may be simply formed by capping the chamber 534 in the cone 532 with acover 536 mounted on the interior surface of the cone 532.

The cone 532 is preferably made from the same material as the cones 32and 132 and the weights 535 preferably comprise spherical balls made ofa suitable plastic or the like. The weights 535 not only enhance therandom nature of the sound produced by the cone 532 when it is struck byany of the impellers previously shown and described herein, but alsoserves as a damper for the cone 532.

In addition to the foregoing alternate embodiments of the presentinvention, it should be noted that there are many other specificembodiments possible. Thus, the motor sound device 30 may be driven byan electric motor powered by batteries, rather than the mechanicalenergy stored in a fly wheel 79 or merely a gear drive connected to theWheels of a car being rolled along a surface. Also, the motor sounddevice may be mounted in a suitable vehicle, such as the vehicle 20,instead of in the simulated engine 174.

It should also be noted that resonators having various geometric shapes,masses and stiffnesses may be employed, as listed hereinbefore.

There are many features of the present invention which clearly show thesignificant advance the present invention represents over the prior art.Consequently, only a few of the more outstanding features will bepointed out to illustrate the unexpected and unusual results obtained bythe present invention. One feature of the present invention is theutilization of a cone for a resonator with the cone being freely exiblearound its periphery. For example, as illustrated, the cone may bethinned out in cross-section adjacent its support means, or have aplurality of corrugations. In any event, such cone is adapted to emitlow-pitched sounds similar to the sounds of an internal combustionmotor. Another feature of the present invention is the utilization of aretractable lug which is extended by centrifugal force and thenretracted by the force of the impact with the resonator device. Withsuch arrangement, a sudden, sharp impact on the resonator is achievedand deadening of the resonator due to prolonged contact is substantiallyprevented. Still another feature of the present invention is theutilization of a bridge to translate the blows from the impeller to theresonator which is adapted to move substantially solely perpendicular tothe resonator. At low impeller speeds and with specially designedresonator constructions, it is possible to achieve reasonable periods ofuse before the resonator is Worn out by the impeller without theprotection of the bridge. However, with high speed impellers or a simplydesigned resonator, the resonator is rapidly destroyed by the impellerwithout the protection of the bridge. Not only does the bridge protectthe resonator from the direct impact of the impeller, but also removesthe distorting forces imposed on the resonator by the impeller so thatthe resonator is actuated only in the direction to achieve maximum soundemission. Still another feature of the present invention is theutilization of vvarious sizes and shapes of lugs as well as positions oflugs to achieve a desired cycle of sound. Also, suitable variation ofsound may be achieved by loading the resonator with movable weights.

It will be understood that the foregoing description and examples areonly illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended thatthe invention be limited thereto. All substitutions, alterations andmodifications of the present invention which come within the scope ofthe following claims or to which the present invention is readilysusceptible vvithout departing from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure are considered part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy vehicle comprising: a substantially hollow body member forminga resonance chamber; a resonator in the form of acellulose-acetate-butyral cone having an apex plug mounted in said bodymember, said resonator having a low-pitched natural frequency belowapproximately 1,000 c.p.s.; wheel means rotatably mounted on said bodymember for facilitating travel of said vehicle along a surface; strikermeans rotatably mounted in said body member adjacent said resonator forcyclically impacting said resonator at its apex plug causing it tovibrate and produce a low-pitched sound simulating the sound of aninternal combustion enigne; and gear means connecting said striker meansto said wheel means for rotating said striker means when said vehicle ispushed along said surface, whereby said striker means will cyclicallyimpact said resonator, `said striker means comprising an impellerconnected to said gear means; and a plurality of rings loosely mountedon pins attached to said impeller and positioned around the periphery ofsaid impeller, said lugs each being retractably mounted on saidiinpeller for 'extension into engagement with said apex plug by thecentrifugal force exerted thereon by the rotation of said impeller, saidrings being made from an acetal resin having a modulus of elasticity ofapproximately 400,000 p.s.1.

2. A toy vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein said rings are mounted onsaid impeller at random angles of at least 60 degrees with respect toeach other.

3. A toy vehicle as defined in claim 2 wherein said rings each hasapproximately a Syl@ inch outside diameter, a 7/16 inch inside diameterand a '1A inch thickness.

4. A toy vehicle as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of saidrings has a non-uniform peripheral surface.

5. A toy vehicle as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said rings'has adifferent annular shape from the others.

6. A toy Vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of said bodymember comprises said resonator.

7. A device for producing sound simulating an internal combustionengine, comprising:

non-metallic resonator means having a low-pitched natural frequencysubstantially less than 2500 c.p.s., said resonator means being adaptedto produce a noise when subjected to repetitive shock-excitation whereinthe bulk of the noise has a frequency below approximately 2500 c.p.s.;

striker means movably mounted adjacent said resonator means for cyclicalengagement therewith when said striker means is moved, and

means connected to said striker means for cyclically impinging itagainst said resonator means, whereby said resonator means producesnoise the bulk of which is of indiscriminate frequencies belowapproximately 2500 c.p.s.,

said resonator means having a mass within a range of approximately .1 toapproximately 100 grams and a stiffness within a range of approximately104 to 10B dynes per centimeter.

8. A device for producing sound simulating an internal combustionengine, comprising:

non-metallic resonator means having a low-pitched natural frequencysubstantially less than 2500 cps., said resonator means being adapted toproduce a noise when subjected to repetitive shock-excitation whereinthe bulk of the noise has a frequency below approximately 2500 c.p.s.;

striker means movably mounted adjacent said resonator means for cyclicalengagement therewith when y dynes per centimeter, said resonator beingprovided with means for dampening vibrations thereof.

9. A device for producing sound simulating an internal combustionengine, comprising:

non-metalic resonator means having a lowpitched natural frequencysubstantially less than 2500 c.p.s., said resonator means being adaptedto produce a noise when subjected to repetitive shock-excitation whereinthe bulk of the noise has a frequency below approximately 2500 c.p.s.;

striker means movably mounted adjacent said resonator means for cyclicalengagement therewith when said striker means is moved, and

means connected to said striker means for cyclically impinging itagainst said resonator means, whereby said resonator means producesnoise the bulk of which is of indiscriminate frequencies belowapproximately 2500 c.p.S.,

said resonator means having a mass within a range of approximately .1 toapproximately 100 grams and a stiffness within a range of approximately104 to 108 dynes per centimeter, said resonator means comprising acellulose-acetate-butyral Vcone held securely around its circumferenceand having an apex portion adjacent said striker means to be struckthereby.

10. A device for producing sound simulating an internal combustionengine, comprising:

non-metallic resonator means having a low-pitched natural frequencysubstantially less than 2500 c.p.s., said resonator means being adaptedto produce a noise when subjected to repetitive shock-excitation whereinthe bulk of the noise has a frequency below approx"- mately 2500 cps.;

striker means movably mounted adjacent said resonator means for cyclicalengagement therewith when said striker means is moved, and

means connectedto said striker means Ifor cyclically impinging itagainst said resonator means, whereby said resonator means producesnoise the bulk of Vwhich is of indiscriminate frequencies belowapproximately 2500 c.p.s.,

said resonator means having a mass Vwithin a range of approximately .1to approximately 100 grams and a stiffness within a range ofapproximately 104 to 10S dynes per centimeter, the natural frequency ofsaid resonator means being in the range of about 250 c.p.s. to 500c.p.s.

1,498,677 6/24 Bemis et al. 116-143 X 2,223,119 11/40 Muller 46-111RICHARD C. PNKHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. A TOY VEHICLE COMPRISING: A SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW BODY MEMBER FORMINGA RESONANCE CHAMBER; A RESONATOR IN THE FORM OF ACELLULOSE-ACETATE-BUTYRAL CONE HAVING AN APEX PLUG MOUNTED IN SAID BODYMEMBER, SAID RESONATOR HAVING A LOW-PITCH NATURAL FREQUENCY BELOWAPPROXIMATELY 1,000 C.P.S.; WHEEL MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODYMEMBER FOR FACILITATING TRAVEL OF SAID VEHICLE ALONG A SURFACE; STRIKERMEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY MEMBER ADJACENT SAID RESONATOR FORCYCLICALLY IMPACTING SAID RESONATOR AT ITS APEX PLUG CAUSING IT TOVIBRATE AND PRODUCE A LOW-PITCHED SOUND SIMULATING THE SOUND OF ANINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE; AND GEAR MEANS CONNECTING SAID STRIKER MEANSWHEN SAID VEHICLE IS PUSHED TATING SAID STRIKER MEANS WHEN SAID VEHICLEIS PUSHED ALONG SAID SURFACE, WHEREBY SAID STRIKER MEANS WILL CYCLICALLYIMPACT SAID RESONATOR, SAID STRIKER MEANS COMPRISING AN IMPELLERCONNECTED TO SAID GEAR MEANS; AND A PLURALITY OF RINGS LOOSELY MOUNTEDON PINS ATTACHED TO SAID IMPELLER AND POSITIONED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OFSAID IMPELLER, SAID LUGS EACH BEING RETRACTABLY MOUNTED ON SAIDIMPELLER, SAID EXTENSION INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID APEX PLUG BY THECENTRIFUGAL FORCE EXERTED THEREON BY THE ROTATION OF SAID IMPELLER, SAIDRINGS BEING MADE FROM AN ACETAL RESIN HAVING A MODULUS OF ELASTICITY OFAPPROAXIMATELY 400,000 P.S.I.